Suction cleaner



Dec. 24, 1940. V c, B-URKHARDT 2,225,621

SUCTION CLEANER Filed Jan. 31, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 mvem'on Dec. 24, 1940.

c. 'BURKHAR'DT 2,225,621

SUCTION CLEANER Filed Jan. 31, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR [ham/0s Burkfiaidf Y ATTdnNEY Dec; 24, 1940. KHARDT 2,225,621

SUCTION CLEANER Filed Jan. 31, 1934 4 Sheets-Shet s x K'" [AV/51 gull-Inn 12 BY #4? l M ATTORNEY Dec. 24, 1940. c. BURKHARDT SUCT ION CLEANER Filed Jan. 51, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Dec. 24, 1940 SUCTION CLEANER.

Chandos Burkhardt, Canton, Ohio, assignor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a

co poration of Ohio Application January 31, 1934, Serial No. 709,073

so Claims.

The present invention relates to suction cleaners in general and particularly to new and novel improvements in the relationship between the parts of a suction cleaner designed for on-thefloor cleaning. More specifically the invention comprises a suction cleaner in which no relative movement takes place between the dust bag and the cleaner handle which suppo it.-

It is an object of the persent vention to provide a new and improved suction cleaner. It is another object of the invention to provide a new and improved suction cleaner in which the handle, the fan chamber and the dust bag are mounted for pivotal movement as a unit about the mo- 5 tor axis. Still another object is the provision of a suction cleaner in which the motor and the fan chamber are mounted for pivotal movement about the axis of the motor. A still further object is the provision of a suction cleaner in which the D cleaner handle is rigidly attached to the motor and the fan chamber, the three elements being,

pivotally connected to the remainder of the machine in a novel manner. A still further'object is the provision of a suction cleaner in whichjthe 5 nozzle is formed with a supporting frame and pivotally carries the remainder of the machine in a novel manner. Still another 'object is the provision of a suction cleaner in which a movably mounted body, including the nozzle, pivotally supports the remainderof the cleaner including the motor, fan chamber, exhaust outlet, handle and the dust bag, means being provided to retain resistingly the pivotally mounted'parts in an angular position or within a range of angular positions. Another object is the provision of a suction cleaner in which the fan chamber is movable relative to the suction nozzle and to the driving motor. These and other 'more specific objects will appear upon reading the following 0 specification and claims, and upon considering in connection therewith the attached drawings 7 to which they relate. a

Referring, now to the drawings, in which the same reference characters refer to the same parts 5 throughout: Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, thru a suction. cleaner constructed in accordance with the present embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a bottom view of the cleaner shown 0 in Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a section upon the line 33 oi Fig 2- 1 Figure 4 is a view looking in the direction of the arrows upon the line 4-401 Fig. 2;

Figure 5 is a side view of a suction cleaner constructed in accordance with 'a second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 6 is a bottom view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 5; i

' Figure -7 is a section upon the line ll of Fig. 15

Figure 8 is a section upon the line 8-8 of Fig.

Thev usual suction cleaner comprises a nozzle and suction-creating means which are operatively connected thereto. The nozzle and the means "are'movably; mounted and are adapted to beprocovering'removing the embedded foreign matter from the covering, and the matter dislodged by the agitator, and depositing it within a filtering bag: The filter or dust bag is commonly connected at its lower. end to the exhaust outlet of the suction-creating means, and at its upper end to the cleaner handle which is normally pivoted to the body of the machine. The usual dust bag is made of cloth and in the normal rela-' "tionship existing between the cleaner parts in 39 a common cleaner, that is, the handle pivoted to a rigid body comprising the nozzle, fan chamber and motor, is perfectly satisfactory. This is true because the cloth bagis adapted to withstand strains and stresses imposed as the handle, carrying the upper end of the bag, pivots relative to the cleaner exhaust outletto which, as stated, the lower end of the bag is attached.

Paper bags have been found to be desirable as their low cost makesfeasible their destruction 40 when filledwith foreign material, thereby rendering unnecessary the distasteful cleaning operation required with the cloth dust bag. Paper bags, however, when used with the common machine described above, have been found tdbe of rela- 46 tively short, life, due to the bending taking place -at their point of attachment to the cleaner ex-- haust outlet. With a view to making the use of paper dust bags completely'satisfactory the present suction cleaner has been invented, and pre- -sents a relationship of parts inwhich no movement takes place between the exhaust outlet of the cleaner and the pivoted handle. Accordingly no bending movement takes place at any part of the dust bag as the bag is connected only to the 56 V handle and to the outlet. The specific construction of the invention is hereinafter fully set forth.

Referring again to the drawings, and to Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, in particular, a preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed. The

cleaner nozzle is provided with front and rear surface-contacting lips 2 and 3, as in the usual cleaner. Two passageways 4 and 5, formed integrally with the nozzle, extend rearwardly from the nozzle mouth, defined by the lips 2 and 3, the passageway 4opening directly to the eye 6 of the fan chamber I, while the passageway 5 extends to a point at the opposite end of the motor shaft and encloses belt-driving pulley 9. Both passageways are provided with removable cap members l0, "lat their ends. 7

The nozzle is provided with rearwardly extending rigid arms forming a frame I The nozzle frame is movably supported upon spaced pairs of front and rear wheels l2, l2 and l3, l3, the former being provided with height-adjusting means l4 so that they can be raised or lowered relative to the nozzle and frame for the purpose of raising and lowering the nozzle lips relative to the surface covering undergoing cleaning.

As in the usual suction cleaner a rotary agitator I5 is positioned within the cleaner nozzle and is adapted to contact the surface covering between the nozzle lips 2 and 3. Agitator l5 includes the usual rigid beating elements and flexible brush elements, and is provided with a pulley l6 opposite the passageway 5, which receives a belt extended through that passageway to the driving pulley 9.

The fan chamber I, which houses the rotating fan 1a, is seen to be formed integrally with the outer motor casing I3 and the two elements, together with the fan chamber exhaust outlet l9, are rotatably mounted upon an axis coincident with the motor axis by theirside walls 2|, 2| which rotatably seat upon the circular flanges 20, 20 formed upon the inner walls of the passageways 4 and 5 suitable seals 22, 22 being provided 1 to render the joints air tight. False side members 23, 23 are carried by the passageways 4 and 5 and are formed with flanges at peripheries which extend into circular channels-24, 24 to cover the sealed joint completely, and to improve the appearance of the machine.

The outer 'side waH of the fan chamber I is formed, as stated, by a removable side member 2|. The inner wall is formed integrally and extends inwardly to enclose fixedly in sealed relationship the casing proper 2501' themotor 8, the

I of the chamber.

end wall of the casing 25 completing the side wall The outer or false casing I3 is not in factthe real motor casing, but serves to enclose the motor with a surrounding body of the same diameter the fan chamber 1 there-.-

shaft which is itself rotatably mounted at its ends in the end walls of the casing 25 upon ball bearings, one of which is indicated at the belt end of the machine at 29. At that end of the machine the' enclosing wall 2| is sealed to the outer surface of the bearing to complete the passageway 5 and to prevent leaks at'that point into the nozzle through the passageway.

The cleaner handle is fixedly carried by the outer motor casing 8 in a rearwardly opening socket 30 formed integrally thereon. The handle is indicated by the reference character 3| and is removably secured in the socket 30 by means 5 of a screw pin 32 asin the usual cleaner construction. The incoming power leads 33, 33 extend down the handle and enter the motor casing through the socket 30 and are suitably connected. The cleaner dust bag, as indicated at 34, is 10 formed of a suitable filtering material, preferably paper. The bag, together with its interior va-lve 35.which prevents foreign matter falling back into the exhaust outlet I9, is carried by an attachment ring 35 which is suitably secured to the 5 exhaust outlet l9 by means of manually operable nut members 31, 31.

To control the pivotal position of the handle and to limit its movement within definite arcs of angular rotation or movement, handle-position- 241 controlling means are provided which, in the present instance, are mounted upon the outer motor casing l8 and upon the nozzle frame. The handle-positioning means comprise an arcuate member 38 and a spring-pressed roller detent 25 39 which rolls against the outer surface thereof. Arcuate sector 38 is provided with spaced seats of various extents upon its outer edge, and the spring force exerted upon the detent 39 is sufficient to prevent unintended rotation of casing I8 30 about its supporting axis, and accordingly of the handle 3|, when the detent is seated within the various seats. .The seats on the sector are so positioned that the handle is-resistingly retained in an upright position and in a range between the vertical and the horizontal.

In the operation of this embodiment of the invention of the handle switch effects connection of operating electric current to the cleaner motor 3, resulting in the rotation of the suctioncreating fan 1a within the fan chamber 1 and of the driving pulley 9. The rotation of pulley 9 results in the rotation of the agitator l5, which is connected thereto by the belt H. The suction created by the fan la is effective through the air passageway 4 and across the nozzle resulting in thelifting of the surface covering undergoing cleaning upwardly into contact with the nozzle lips 2 and 3 and with the rotating agitator therebetween. The agitator disturbs and dislodges the 50 foreign matter from the surface covering and the inrushing air into the nozzle carries the foreign matter through the air passageway 4 to the fan chamber I and exhaust outlet l9, and deposits it within the dust bag 34, the air continuing 65 through the bag to the exterior atmosphere. The propulsion of the cleanerback and forth across the surface covering by the operator, who grasps the upper end'of the handle 3|, naturally results in the pivotal movement of the handle relative to 60 that part of the machine which remains in fixed relationship relative to the surface covering, that is, the nozzle and the air passageways 4 and 5. As the handle 3| is fixedly and rigidly connected to the motor, the fan chamber. and the exhaust 65 outlet I9, the pivotal movement of the handle results also in the arcuate rotation or pivotal movement of these members about their supporting axes which, in the embodiment disclosed, are coincident and aline l;.with the axis of the driving motor and fan. It is seen, therefore, that as the handle pivots it rotates the motor and fan casing upon their seats upon the flanges 20, 20 of the passageways] and 5. As the dust bag 34 is connected to the handle 3| and to the exhaust outlet I 9 and as the handle and outlet pivot as a unit relative to the nozzle, it is clear that no relative movement takes place between the various parts of the dust bag 34. This relationship makes possible the use of fabric in the dust bag which will not stand repeated strains and stresses. e i Referring now to Figures to ,8 inclusive, 8. second preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed. In the main this modification follows the broad outline of the first modification with certain definite exceptions. According to the present embodiment the motor I, and its inner and outer casings and I8, respectively, are fixedly secured to the belt-containing passageway 5. Accordingly the sealed joint permitting movement between the motor casing and the passageway 5 of the first modification, has been eliminated. The fan chamber I is again rotate ably mountedupon, the circularseat of passageway 4, the major axis of that seat being coincident with the axis of.the motor and being suitably sealed relative to the fan chamber by seals 22. 'As the fan chamber rotates and the motor does not move, it is necessary to provide a sealed sliding joint between. the fan chamber. and the inner motor casing'di. This-is done at 40 and the, rotational movement of the fan chamber 1 takes place without corresponding movement inthe motor and its casings., The

ate sector 38 and the spring-pressed detentfl,

have been positioned so thatthe sector iscarried at the periphery and bottom of the fan chamber instead of on the outer motor casing as in the first embodiment. a In this embodiment of the invention, as the machine is pushed back and forth across the surface-covering, the handle pivots relative to.

the remainder of the machine. and rotates the fan. chamber about its axis. bodiment no relative movement takes'place between the exhaust outlet l9 and the handle and accordingly no bending or strainis imposed upon or in the bag in the cleaner operation.

. I claim:

1. In an on-the-floor-type suction'cleaner. a

nozzle adapted to move over a surface covering at a predetermined height relative thereto, a fan chamber and a motor casing, aim in said chamber and a rotating element in said casing connected to said fan, the axis of said fan and said element extending at an angle to the direction of cleaner movement, said fan chamber and motor casing being mountedfor pivotal movement relative to the nozzle about an axis extended in the same direction as said first mentioned axis and which passes through said chamber and casing, and a handle rigidly connected relative to said chamber and casing.'

2. In a suction cleaner, a surface-contacting nozzle, means supporting said nozzle for moveing, a driving motor positioned with its axis horizontal and substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of said nozzle, a fan chamber rotatably mounted relative to said nozzle for movement about an axis passing through itself,

Asin thefirst emment upon a surface covering undergoing cleana fan on the extended end of the shaft of said motor and positioned in said chamber, and. a handle rigidly connected to said chamber. f

3. In a suction cleaner, aesurface-contacting nozzle, means supporting said nozzle for movement upon a surface coveringundergoing cleaning, a driving "motor positioned with its axis extended transversely to the direction of movementof said nozzle, afan chamber rotatably mounted relative tosaid nozzle and to the casing of said moton said fan chamber being positioned at one end of said motor, a fan in said chamber mounted on the extended end of the shaft of said motor, and a handle connected to and movable angularly with said chamber.

4. In a suction cleaner, a nozzle, including rearwardly extending passageways, an agitator in said nozzle, a driving motor, the shaft of said motor extended into one of said passageways, power-transmitting means connecting said shaft to said agitator, a fan chamber open: at'its eye to a second of said passageways'and positioned between said motor'and said second passageway. a fan insaid chamber, said fan chamber being rotatable about an axis coincident with the motor shaft and relative to the nozzle, an exhaust outlet on said chamber, a handle fixedly connected to said chamber, and a dust bag supported by said handle and connected to said exhaust outlet. 4 w Y 5. Theconstruction'recited by the preceding claim characterized in that the statorof said motor is rotatably mounted'and rotates with said fan chamber as the handle is pivoted." v 6., In anon-the-floor-typesuction cleaner, a nozzle adapted to move over a surface covering, suction-creating means including a fan chamber, a fan, a motor casing, and a rotating element in said casing connected to said tam-the axisof said fan and said element extending in a horizontal plane at an angle tothe direction of, cleaner movement, said fan chamber and said motor-casing being mounted for pivotal movement relative to the nomle about an axis extended in the same direction as said first mentioned axis and which passes through said cham ber and easing, a handle rigidly connected relative to said chamber and casing, and meanstb retain said suction-creating means and handle in certain angular positions relative to said nOZZle. i

'7. In a suction cleaner, a surface-contacting nozzle, means supporting said nozzle for movement over a surface covering, a driving motor connected to said nozzle with its axis extended transversely to the direction of movement of said nozzle, a fan chamber connected at one end of said nozzle and rotatably mounted relative thereto about an axis extended in the direction of said motor axis, a fan on the extended end of the shaft'of said motor positionedin said chamber,

a dust bag connected to the exhaust outlet of said fan chamber, a handle rigidly connected to and movable angularly with said chamber, and cooperating means on the unit comprising said motor and nozzle and on the 'unit comprising said chamber and handle to control the angular position of said chamber and handle.

8. In an on-the-floor-typesuction cleaner,-a nomle, an agitator at said nozzle, a driving motor. positioned with --itsshaft extended transversely to the direction of cleaner movement, power-transmitting means connecting said motor shaft to said agitator, a farrchamber having an exhaust outlet and connected interiorly to said nozzle and rotatable relative thereto about an axis extended in the direction of said motor shaft, a handle connected-to said chamber and adapted to pivot as saidchamber rotates, and a dust bag connected to the exhaust outlet of said chamber.

9. In a suction cleaner, a nozzle including an air passageway having a normally covered opening,- a driving motor, a fan chamber with its eye open tosaid passageway near said opening. said fan chamber being rotatable relative to the nozzle abtmt an axis extended in the direction of the axis of said motor, said eye being alined with said opening in at least one position of said fan chamber, a fan in said chamber connected to the shaft of said motor, and a handle fixedly connected to said chamber, the cover of said opening being removable to receive a dusting tool connection.

10. The construction recited by the preceding claim characterized in that said opening and said fan chamber eye are allned so that a dusting tool connection inserted through the former can seat directly on the latter, there being means to prevent unintended rotation of said fantive to a supporting surface the said motor including a rotor and a stator, a casing enclosing said stator, a fan chamber enclosing said fan and interiorly connected to said nozzle, said chamber and said casing connected rigidly as a unit which is rotatable relative to the nozzle about a transverse axis, dust-separating means connected to the exhaust outlet of said chamber, and a handle connected to said unit for movement therewith.

12. In a suction cleaner, a nozzle, means supporting said nozzle for movement over a surface covering, a driving motor including a casing connected to said nozzle with its horizontal axis extended transversely to the direction of movement of said nozzle, a fan on the extended end of the shaft of said motor, a fan chamber housing said fan and interiorly connected to said nozzle and movable relative thereto, said fan chamber being formed with an exhaust outlet and a passageway leading thereto which expands axially of said motor and adjacent its casing, a dust bag connected to said exhaust outlet, and a handle connected to and movable with said fan chamber.

13. The construction recited in the preceding claim in which said fan chamber is movable relative to said motor casing and said axially expand? ing passageway extends therearonnd.

14. In a suction cleaner, a surface-contacting nozzle, means supporting said nozzle for move-,

ing, a driving motor positioned with its axis horizontal and substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of said nozzle, a fan chamber mounted for movement relative to the nozzle about an axis passing through itself, a joint at the eye of said chamber sealing said chamber relative to said nozzle and permitting relative movement therebetween, a fan on the extended end of the shaft of said motor and positioned in said chamber, and a handle connected to said chamber and movable therewith.

16. In an on-the-floor type cleaner, a nozzle, a driving motor positioned with its shaft extended transversely to the direction of cleaner movement, a fan chamber having an exhaust outlet and connected interiorlyto said nozzle and rotatable relative thereto about an axis extended inthe direction of said ,motorshaft, a handle connected to the exhaust outlet of said fan chamber and adapted to move therewith and to exert a moving 'f ed end of the shaft of said motor and positioned in said chamber, a dust bag connected to the exhaust outlet of said chamber, a cleaner-actuating handle fixedly connected to said chamber and supporting said bag, said chamber, handle and bag being movable as a unit relative to said nozzle.

18. In an on-the-floor type suction cleaner, a

nozzle including a transverselyextending mouthportion having a rearwardly extending passageway at one side, a fan chamber and a motor casing having transversely extending axes in a horizontal plane, a sealing joint rotatably connecting said chamber to said passageway in the rear of said mouth portion of said nozzle, a motor in said motor casing with its shaft extended into said fan chamber, a fan on said shaft in said chamber, and a handle connected for movement with said fanchamber relative to said nozzle.

- 19. In a suction cleaner, a nozzle including rearwardly extending passageways at its ends, an agitator in said nozzle, a driving motor including a casing, rotor and stator, said motor casing being sealed to one of said passageways and said rotor being ,extended therein, powertransmitting means extended in said one passageway connecting said rotor to said agitator, a fan chamber positioned between said motor casing and a second passageway and rotatably sealed to the latter by a joint at the chamber eye, a fan in said chamber on the extended motor rotor, and a handle connected to said fan chamber for movement upon the rotation thereof.

20. The construction recited in the preceding claim in which said motor casing is rotatably connected by a sealing joint to said one passageway, and said chamber and easing move as a unit.

21. In a suction cleaner, a casing including a nozzle adapted for movement over a supporting surface, a fan, a second casing including a fan chamber enclosing said fan and mounted for pivotal movement upon said first casing about a horizontal axis extended through said fan chambet, in the direction of the fan axis, and perpendicular to the direction of cleaner movement, an operating handle for said cleaner connected to and movable with said second casing, and a dust bag connected to said fan chamber and to said handle and movable therewith as a unit.

22. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a wheeled casing having a nozzle extending transversely to the normal direction of movement or the cleaner, a cylindric housing pivotally mounted-- upon said casing with its axis horizontal and parallel with said nozzle, 2. motor driven ian mounted within said housing, the latter having an inlet ing nozzle, a cylindric housing pivotally mounted on said casing intermediate said front and rear wheels with its axis horizontal and parallel with said nozzle, a motor driven fan mounted axially of said housing, a portion thereof including said fan and forming a ifa'n chamber communicating with said nozzle and having a radially disposed exhaust outlet integral therewith, a handle rigidly mounted on said housing adjacent said exhaust outlet, and a dust collecting receptacle connected at one end with said exhaust outlet and supported at its opposite end by said handle.

24. A vacuum cleaner comprising a suction chamber, means supporting said chamber for movement over a surface to becleaned, said suction chamber having a rearwardly and upwardly extended throat, a fan case having its inlet hinged to said throat, a fan in said fan casing, a motor for driving said fan, a handle attached to the fan casing for pushing the suction chamber, and a dust collecting bag suspended beneath the handle, said bag having an inlet neck attached to the outlet of the fan casing, said handle, bag and fan casing attached-to swing as. a unit around the axis of said motor which axis is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the suction chamber and transverse'to the direction of the cleaner movement.

25. A suction cleaner including a transversely extending suction nozzle and a motor and tan.

having horizontal transversely extending axes, the said motor including a rotor and a stator, a fan chamber enclosing said tan and interiorly connected to said nomle, said chamber being rotatably mounted relative to the nozzle for movement about the fan axis, and a handle connected to said chamber and movable therewith and in a vertical plane. I

26. In a vacuum cleaner, a suction chamber, a motor mounted thereon, its axis horizontal and transverse to the direction of cleaner travel, a fan case mounted for swinging movement around the axis of said motor, a handle rigidly attached to said fan case,- said suction chamber having an outlet throat and said fan case having an inlet neck, said throat and neck having arcuate portions disposed circumferentlally with respect to said motor axis and telescopically engaged with each other to allow said handle to move up and down while maintaining a closed air passage from said suction chamber to said fan case.

2'7. A suction cleaner including a transversely extending suction nozzle, a suction-creating fan rotatable about an axis extended transversely to the direction of cleaner movement, a fan chamber enclosing said fan, interiorly connected to said nozzle, and rotatable relative to said nozzle about an axis through itself extended transversely to the direction of cleaner movement, a driving motor connected to said tan, and a handle connected to said chamber and rotatable therewith and in a vertical plane.

28. A suction cleaher including a transversely extending suction nozzle, an air passageway connected to said nozzle, a suction-creating fan rotatable about a horizontal axis extended transversely to the direction of cleaner movement, a

unit including a fan chamber mounted on said nozzle unit for pivotal movement about the fan axis transversely to the direction of cleaner movement, and interiorly connected to said passageway, a handle rigidly connected to said fan chamber unit extended perpendicularly to said axis and adapted to pivot with said unit, said air passageway including dlsplaceable means be-' tween said nozzle and fan chamber and adapted to be interrupted to convert said cleaner from an on-the-floo'r cleaner to an oflf-the-floor cleaner.

30. A suction cleaner comprising an ambulatory nozzle unit including a nozzle and an air passageway connected thereto, a fan chamber unit including a fan chamber mounted on said nozzle unit for pivotal movement about the tan member removably covering said opening to give entrance to said fan chamber unit.

cmnos nunxnmn'r. 

